Olivia Cooke links social-media break to fan discourse

Olivia Cooke said online discussion around House of the Dragon contributed to her decision to deactivate her social-media accounts ahead of the series’ third season, describing parts of the show’s fandom as misogynistic and racist. Her comments about fan behavior are her account; the reports do not independently measure how widespread it is.

In an interview with GQ, Cooke said some interpretations of scenes spread online and became detached from what viewers had seen on screen. “I think some of those interpretations just catch fire, and they become something that bears no resemblance to what was shown on the screen at the time,” she said. She added that there was “a lot of ugliness” in the fandom and said it was steeped in misogyny and racism.

Cooke plays Alicent Hightower in the Game of Thrones prequel. Discussion around the character included reactions to storylines in the third season, including scenes involving Alicent and her son Aemond. Reports said some fans also criticised Cooke’s character and speculated about her relationship with directors. Cooke said some interpretations bore little resemblance to what appeared on screen.

She described the online activity as one...